Veteran militant likely behind Mali attacks:French official

A veteran militant is believed to be behind the hotel attack in Mali as Obama says will allow militants no safe haven. Julie Noce reports.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

French authorities believe this man, who was once thought to have been killed in a raid, was probably behind the deadly attack on a hotel in Mali on Friday night.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian, is a veteran Islamist militant leader and has been a key figure in North African insurgencies for years. Last June, Libyan authorities said he was killed by a U.S. air strike.
But his group, Al Mourabitoun have claimed responsibility along with al Qaeda for the deadly attack on the Raddison Blu hotel in Bamako that killed at least 27 people.
The attack happened one week after 130 people were killed by Islamic State militants in Paris.
Speaking at a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama said the Mali attacks have strengthened the resolve of the US and its allies to fight militants.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:
"Like the heinous attacks we saw in paris, and attacks we see all too often elsewhere, this is another awful reminder that the scourge of terrorism threatens so many of our nations. Once again this barbarism stiffens our resolve to meet this challenge."
The U.S. State Department has said a female aid worker from the U.S. was amongst those killed.